Neck strap and locket assembly

ABSTRACT

A neck strap attachable to the foldable side pieces of a pair of eyeglasses, making it possible for an individual to wear his glasses hanging from the neck, with a decorative locket of rigid material, joinable to the cable of the neck strap, and having a lens cleaner stored therein. The locket in combination with the neck strap creates a decoration located at the rear of the individual&#39;s neck, which complements the appearance of the eyeglasses.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 ofinternational application PCT/IL01/00187, filed Feb. 27, 2001, whichdesignated the United States, and which international application waspublished under PCT Article 21(2) in the English language.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to eyeglass accessories, and inparticular to accessories associated with neck straps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A standard pair of eyeglasses consists of a pair of lenses mounted on aframe and foldable temple or side pieces hinged to opposite sides of theframe. When an individual wears eyeglasses over his eyes, the sidepieces then lie against the temples of the wearer and extend over theears to hold the glasses in place.

Prescription eyeglasses serve to correct visual defects. Many eyeglassesmay be prescribed for reading purposes only, in which event the wearerwill wear the eyeglasses in a reading mode, and take them off in aviewing mode during which the eyeglasses are unsuitable.

In many situations it is necessary to switch from one mode to another atfairly frequent intervals. This switching action is facilitated by aneck strap attached to the eyeglasses, for when the wearer removes theeyeglasses from his eyes, they are then suspended by the strap from hisneck at which position the wearer can conveniently later raise theglasses to again cover his eyes.

Those wearing glasses need to clean them from time to time. One wearingeyeglasses with a neck strap needs to clean them still more often for,when repeatedly switching from the mode in which the glasses cover theeyes to one in which the glasses are suspended from the neck, the weareris likely to smudge the lenses. In order to then clean the lenses, thewearer needs a lens cleaner available at any time.

It is known to provide a portable lens cleaner so that a wearer ofglasses can clean its lenses when the need to do so arises away fromhome. Thus the U.S. Pat. No. to Fitzhugh 4,854,449 describes a portablelens cleaner formed by a tubular case having a reusable, lens-cleaningchamois cloth. The Valady U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,132 shows a lens cleanerin the form of a felt-tipped pen whose cap contains a cleaning solution.U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,204 to Smith shows a portable eyeglass cleaning kitin which a cleaning cloth is housed in a small can.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,072 to Goldenberg discloses a pouch joined to a neckstrap for storing eyeglasses or small objects. The pouch is made of softmaterial and can be rolled up to form a cylindrical pack that is joinedto the neck strap whose ends are releasably attachable to the foldablearms of the eyeglasses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a new accessory forstoring a lens cleaner which is to be combined with a neck strapassociated with a pair of eyeglasses.

In accordance with the present invention, the novel accessory is alocket. By definition, a locket is a small case having space therein fora memento or other small object, the locket being worn suspended by achain. A locket in accordance with the invention is a miniaturecontainer, preferably smaller than an eyeglasses lens to be combinedwith a neck strap for carrying a lens cleaner on the one hand and, onthe other hand, for creating an attractive decoration that maycomplement the appearance of the eyeglasses associated therewith.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a locket andneck strap assembly joinable to the side pieces of a pair of eyeglasses,the assembly comprising: a neck strap consisting of a flexible cable andend couplers adapted to engage the side pieces; and a rigid locketjoined to the cable and so placed thereon that when the assembly is wornby an individual and the eyeglasses are suspended from the front of hisneck, the locket is suspended from the rear thereof, the locket having acleaner therein for the lenses of eyeglasses.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the locket isprovided with integral channels adapted for receiving the cable of astandard neck strap. The channels have longitudinal slots allowing thecable to be inserted therein without having to be detached from the sidepieces. The channels may be spaced by a gap for pulling out of it a partof the cable and tightening the eyeglasses to user's head.

With the assembly of the present invention, when the wearer of thespectacles is in need of a lens cleaner, the cleaner is at hand. Also,since the locket is rigid, it may be tightly closed and adapted toaccommodate a lens cleaning cloth, a phial of cleaning liquid, a lenscleaning pen, or the like, and to protect said objects from ambientdust, from grease and sweat associated with the hair, and from breaking.

The locket may serve as a decoration so that when the assembly is inplace, the decorative locket lies behind the neck and its attractivenesscan further be enhanced by styling. The rigid material of the locketprovides a suitable surface for placing a text, a logo or other image,or the material itself may be molded in a shape resembling anotherobject; thus the assembly of the present invention may give rise to anew line of advertising and promoting accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention as well as further objectsand other features thereof, reference is made to the attached drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of eyeglasses having attachedthereto a neck strap and locket assembly in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 separately illustrates the lens cleaners to be stored in thelocket;

FIG. 3 shows the locket with its lid raised to expose the lens cleanersstored therein;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the locket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a pair of eyeglasses having aplastic or metal frame 10 in which is mounted a pair of lenses 11 and12. Hinged to opposite ends of frame 10 are foldable side pieces 13 and14. Attachable to the extremities of side pieces 13 and 14 is a neckstrap consisting of a flexible cable 15, preferably formed of braidedfabric material, having couplers 16 and 17 attached to their ends. Thecouplers engage the extremities of side pieces 13 and 14 of the glasses.Joinable to the cable is a rigid locket, which is slidable along thecable but is preferably coupled at cable's midpoint so that the locketis symmetrically arranged with respect to end couplers 16 and 17.

Locket L includes a small case 18 in which is housed a lens cleaningcloth 19 and a lens cleaning pen 20. Pen 20, as shown separately in FIG.2, has a felt tip and a removable cap. Both the pen and the cloth aresnugly nested in case 18. Hinged to case 18 is a closure lid 21. The lidand case of the locket is molded or otherwise fabricated of highstrength plastic such as polypropylene or polycarbonate.

Locket L as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has the shape of a shield providedwith tapering sides that converge toward a curved end. Formed along thetapered sides of the case 21 and conforming to the curvature thereof arechannel segments 24 and 25 having a C-shaped cross section so that eachchannel has a longitudinal slot 26 therein, preferably of Z-like orS-like shape. The pliable cable 15 of the neck strap can be forcedthrough the slot 26 to be received within the channel. Thus it is asimple matter to attach the cable of a neck strap to the locket withoutdetaching any of couplers 16 or 17.

The channel segments 24 and 25 are so designed as to run along at leasthalf circumference of the locket L and to keep apart branches 28 and 29of the cable coming from the side pieces 13 and 14 by a distance aboutthe diameter of the locket. This configuration provides for the stableand comfortable position of the locket on the neck of the user.

The gap between the channel segments 24 and 25 allows a cable loop 30,FIG. 1, to be pulled out and the eyeglasses to be tightened to the headof the user during a physical activity. Furthermore, the channelsegments are of curved form or, alternatively, consist of a plurality ofnon-coaxial parts with the purpose to increase friction with the cableand to ensure the retaining of the tightened condition.

Extending from the lower end of case 18 is a lug 22 from which issuspended a ring 23 for carrying a small object, such as an amulet or akey. Alternatively, a locket of the present invention with the ring 23may be detached from the neck strap and used as a key-holder.

The present invention which resides in an assembly of a locket and aneck strap can be associated with eyeglasses of any style, as long asthe side pieces of the eyeglasses are capable of being coupled to a neckstrap. Hence the style of the spectacles shown in FIG. 1 is by way ofexample only. And while the locket included in the assembly is notlimited in style to the style which is illustrated herein, the stylethat is adopted should be in harmony with the style of the eyeglasses.For example, if the frame of the eyeglasses and the lenses are oval inform, then an ovoidal shape for the locket would be appropriate. And ifthe frame of the glasses is of black plastic material, a similarmaterial should be that used for the locket.

Once the locket is combined with a neck strap, the wearer not only has anecklace which complements the appearance of the eyeglasses and is acosmetic asset, but also has available at all time lens cleaners for thelenses of his spectacles.

While there has been shown a preferred embodiment of a locket and neckstrap assembly, it is to be understood that many changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A locket and neck strap assembly joinable to theside pieces of a pair of eyeglasses having lenses, said assemblycomprising a neck strap consisting of a flexible cable and end couplerstherefor adapted to engage the side pieces; and a rigid locket joined tothe cable and so placed thereon that when the assembly is worn by anindividual and the eyeglasses are then suspended from the front of hisneck, the locket is then located at the rear thereof, said locket beingadapted to accommodate a cleaner therein for said lenses, where saidlocket is joined to the cable by a channel integral with the locket andreceiving the cable, said channel consisting of at least two parts and agap therebetween, said gap allowing for pulling out a part of the cableand tightening the eyeglasses to user's head.
 2. An assembly as setforth in claim 1, wherein the cleaner is a piece of soft material.
 3. Anassembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rigid locket hassubstantially a flat bottom surface and a dome-shaped top surface.
 4. Anassembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cleaner is a felt-tippedpen.